PEAWKNEWS EXCLUSIVE
OSUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CRISIS: GOVERNOR ADELEKE MUST STOP BLACKMAILING ASIWAJU GBOYEGA OYETOLA — HON. WOLE OKE
By PEAKNEWS Political Desk
Osogbo | 28 January,2026
Hon. Oluwole Oke, Member representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and the Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has intervened swiftly in the lingering Osun State Local Government crisis, warning Governor Ademola Adeleke to desist from what he described as the blackmail of former Governor and current Minister, Asiwaju Gboyega Oyetola.
In a statement made available to PEAKNEWS, the federal lawmaker said the crisis rocking the local government system in Osun State is self-inflicted, arising from avoidable legal and political miscalculations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.
“I am compelled to intervene because I was a member of the PDP when these events occurred and I participated directly in consultations at critical stages,” Hon. Oke stated.
According to the lawmaker, the roots of the crisis can be traced to what he described as an unnecessary confrontation with the Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Mrs. Ojo, followed by a flawed legal approach.
He explained that instead of approaching the court with constitutional jurisdiction over local government election matters, the PDP government opted for the Federal High Court.
“The party introduced federal and human-rights arguments into what was purely a local electoral dispute,” Oke said.
Although the PDP initially secured a favourable judgment at the Federal High Court, he noted that the decision did not stand the test of law.
“That judgment was overturned at the Court of Appeal,” he recalled.
On 10 February 2025, the Court of Appeal delivered a landmark ruling reinstating the APC-elected Local Government Council officials across Osun State.
Following the appellate court judgment, Hon. Oke disclosed that Governor Adeleke sought legal guidance from the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who advised unequivocally that no fresh local government election should be conducted.
“The Attorney-General made it clear that there was no vacancy,” Oke emphasized.
Despite what he described as sound and professional advice, the Osun State Government allegedly chose to ignore it.
Hon. Oke revealed that immediately after the Court of Appeal judgment, he personally advised the Governor, Deputy Governor, party leaders, key stakeholders, and the Osun State Attorney-General on lawful steps to manage the situation.
“I advised that government should apply for a Stay of Execution and proceed to the Supreme Court, so that elections could be lawfully conducted pending appeal,” he said.
That advice, he added, was rejected.
He further disclosed that he recommended that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) issue notice of fresh elections to take effect after the expiration of the reinstated councils’ tenure.
“That would have provided the PDP a lawful opportunity to return through the ballot,” Oke explained.
Once again, the counsel was ignored.
Reacting to recent public statements and political tensions surrounding the crisis, the lawmaker condemned what he described as attempts to externalize responsibility.
“For Governor Adeleke to now turn around to blackmail Asiwaju Gboyega Oyetola and drag external institutions into this matter is unfair and misleading,” he declared.
According to him, the facts are clear and cannot be rewritten.
“The truth is simple: this crisis is self-inflicted.”
Only Two Lawful Options
Hon. Wole Oke stressed that the rule of law provides only two legitimate paths forward for the Osun State Government:
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Work with the reinstated APC Local Government Council officials, or
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Allow them to operate peacefully until their tenure lawfully expires.
“Anything outside this framework undermines the rule of law and deepens instability in Osun State,” he warned.
The federal legislator urged all parties to put Osun State above politics and allow constitutional provisions to prevail.
He cautioned that continued defiance of court judgments risks plunging the state into prolonged institutional conflict.
“Governance must be guided by law, not emotions or political convenience,” Hon. Oke concluded.
This was contained in a release signed and obtained by PeakNews from Hon. Oluwole Oke, Member House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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